Upon hearing this, the county magistrate's wife immediately became anxious and said to her daughter Zhang Lanxiang, "Lan'er, don't talk nonsense! This is Doctor He, who has just arrived at Yuyuantang."

Manager Ren had to inform the magistrate's wife of who he was bringing, and He Jiuniang's identity was no secret.

"Her? A woman?"

Zhang Lanxiang glanced at her with disdain, her gaze unfriendly. He Jiuniang found it amusing; this young girl looked down on women.

"Shopkeeper, if Miss Zhang doesn't think much of my medical skills, there's no need to force her. Please go back."

She chuckled softly and turned to leave.

"How dare you! You unruly commoner, how dare you be so disrespectful to me!"

Looking at the woman's calm and collected face, Zhang Lanxiang felt a surge of anger. This made her even more skeptical that this woman could cure her illness.

He's just good-looking, what medical skills does he have to offer?

Manager Ren must have been bewitched by her!

"I wonder where you found me to be rude, Miss?"

She turned to look at Zhang Lanxiang. When Zhang Lanxiang saw her staring at her face, she felt insulted and tears streamed down her face.

He Jiuniang: ? ? ?

Seeing her daughter like this, Madam Zhang felt extremely distressed. While comforting her daughter, she said to He Jiuniang, "Please forgive my daughter's condition. Since she fell ill, her emotions have been somewhat unstable. She has no ill intentions."

Oh, so being emotionally unstable means you can bully people at will?

No wonder she's from an official family.

He Jiuniang didn't reply, but just smiled mockingly and turned to leave.

Manager Ren dared not offend the magistrate's family, so he hurriedly grabbed her sleeve and said anxiously, "Doctor He, calm down, calm down!"

"What's there to be calm about? Since she doesn't want treatment and just wants to stay ugly like this, showing her face with a veil every day, what can I do?"

He Jiuniang's tone was full of laughter and provocation, which made the county magistrate's wife frown. How dare this female doctor say that her daughter was ugly?

Manager Ren was sweating profusely with anxiety. How could this little brat dare to say anything!

"Who are you calling ugly! Just because you're pretty doesn't mean you can be so great! Guards, seize her! I'm going to teach her a lesson today!"

Zhang Lanxiang screamed and ordered her servants around. Even the county magistrate's wife said, "My daughter, no matter what, is not someone Doctor He can talk about like this."

He Jiuniang sneered inwardly, thinking, "Like mother, like daughter."

The magistrate's wife initially put on a poised and elegant demeanor, but unexpectedly, her true colors were revealed in a short while.

"What happened? What kind of mess is this?!"

Just as they were arguing, a stern male voice came from inside, and even Zhang Lanxiang forgot to wail.

"It's you?"

Magistrate Zhang had already entered the flower hall and seen He Jiuniang.

He remembered this woman; she had previously brought over two thieves who had robbed people on the road.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Remembering that Zhang Song had said this magistrate was a good official and that the previous trial of Qian Daniu's case was reasonable, He Jiuniang became more respectful.

When Zhang Lanxiang saw that her father actually knew this woman, she became even more furious. This woman was so beautiful, could it be that she had designs on her father?

She said, "Why would Manager Ren bring a woman here?"

Zhang Lanxiang was only twelve years old, but people in this era were generally precocious, so it was understandable that she would think this way.

"Father, you must stand up for your daughter! This woman... she... she's humiliated me!"

Magistrate Zhang glanced at He Jiuniang and asked his wife in a deep voice, "What happened?"

The magistrate's wife skipped over the part about her daughter throwing a tantrum and said, "This new doctor, Dr. He, said that our Lan'er is ugly and has to wear a veil all year round... Waaah, my poor Lan'er, she's such a nice girl, she didn't want to have this disease!"

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhang's face immediately darkened. Just as he was about to reprimand He Jiuniang, she asked with a smile, "May I ask how many years you have been in office, Magistrate?"

Magistrate Zhang was taken aback, but still blurted out instinctively, "Seven years."

"hehe."

He Jiuniang covered her mouth and laughed, completely offending the whole family.

Generally speaking, local officials have one opportunity for promotion every three years, but this county magistrate missed two opportunities in a row. What does this indicate?

"My lord, it is said that one should marry a virtuous wife. With a virtuous wife behind you to solve your problems, you can be more successful in the officialdom. But now you have served as county magistrate for seven consecutive years. Have you considered that perhaps your wife does not have the appearance of bringing good fortune to her husband?"

She kept spouting nonsense, and as she wished, she saw the magistrate's wife become furious, but she dared not cause any trouble because the magistrate was present.

Logically speaking, if her family wanted to settle down in Daling County, they shouldn't offend the local official. However, the magistrate's wife and daughter looked down on women as soon as they arrived and made a series of baseless accusations. If she continued to tolerate this, wouldn't she become a cuckold?

She wasn't one to back down; if things really escalated, she had ways to ensure the safety of her entire family.

"How dare you speak ill of my mother like that!"

Zhang Lanxiang, her eyes red, was about to come over and teach He Jiuniang a lesson, but He Jiuniang looked at a little maid beside her and said, "Do you dare to tell me everything that happened before? If you lie, I curse your young lady to be covered in sores and festering sores that will never be cured for the rest of her life."

"Mrs. He, stop talking nonsense!"

Magistrate Zhang was so angry that his hands trembled, but he didn't actually order anyone to arrest He Jiuniang. In his mind, some of the reasons why he hadn't been promoted over the years and the things that had happened flashed through his mind.

The magistrate's wife knelt at his feet, sobbing, "My lord, this woman is talking nonsense! I am just a woman, how could I have such power? If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a reason!"

He Jiuniang looked at Magistrate Zhang with a smile and said, "Your Excellency, just have that little maid confess honestly."

Ignoring his weeping wife, Magistrate Zhang glared at the young maid and demanded, "Speak!"

The maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, glanced at her young mistress and madam, closed her eyes, and honestly recounted what had just happened.

"You insolent brat! Is this how you discipline your daughter?!"

Those who can become officials, no matter how low their rank, always have some brains. Magistrate Zhang immediately understood the whole story.

Originally, Zhang Lanxiang was arrogant and made a scene as soon as she arrived. Later, He Jiuniang deliberately provoked Zhang Lanxiang with words, hoping to get Zhang Lanxiang to agree to see the doctor. However, Lu Shi was a brainless person. Not only did she not understand what he meant, but she also joined in the commotion.

No wonder people laugh at him for not getting promoted for so many years.

He was naturally furious, furious that He Jiuniang had exposed his scars, and furious that his wife and daughter were good-for-nothings.

Magistrate Zhang kicked his wife, Lady Lü, aside and was about to lash out when He Jiuniang said, "Your Excellency, as the local official, you should treat men and women equally. Madam and Miss are both women, yet you look down on women like this. If the officials who come to assess your performance see this, they will report it to the authorities. How will Your Excellency have any chance of promotion?"

He Jiuniang smiled gently, while Manager Ren shivered. How could Doctor He be so good at sowing discord?

Is this what they mean by "only women and petty men are difficult to deal with"?